Pneumatic coupler for musical instruments



Feb. 18, 1930. 1 T. BARKsTRoM PNEUMATIG GOUPLER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Jan. 24. 1927 Patented Feb. 18, 1930 LEWISK T- `irive'ntioI-i':relates to couplers .foin-Inu'- sical instruments, andmore particularlyfcon` ce1-ns pneumatic couplers .for key-controlled, automatically fcontro'lled, and combinedV key l 5 and'automatically controlledZ instruments.

- The @princi-pall object of zthe'invention is` to provide 'a' lcoupler' of the I'aforesaid' 'character which is simple in construction'and Ielicient in operation, not flikely--to getout oit-order,

not liable 'to leakage, and Whichmayf be ccnverseV sections being 'taken througli different parts oft` the K structureftcwillustrate they rela-` tionship and interconnection o; the several series-of coupler-ducts; ai?? `Fig. lfisL a detail,.showing infperspective one of the coupler-valves of-Fdg.. 1*-, partrof the valve being'broken -away to expose the underlying structure-g yF ig. 2 is a`r sectional View of a-conventional form of coupler draw-stop which may -be'used in connection with the pneumatic coupler shcwnin Fig. 1 to control'the operativeness thereof; if

Fig. .34 is a sectional view, somewhat diagrammatic in character, of a conventional form olf-automaticcontrolling means, such as is employed itc control the operation of auto? mat-ically controlled musical Y instruments, comprising the--wellknown music:v sheet, tracker, and tracker-controllablei valve-action, with which the Ypneumatic coupler of Fig. l is designated to co-operate; and

Fig. l is a sectional view of a conventional 'lorm of manual key-board and key-operable valve-action, such as is employed to control the sounding of the notes in certain forms of key-controlled musical instruments, comprising the Well known manual key and a simple form of key-operable valve, with which the pneumatic coupler of Fig. l is also designed to (Jo-operate.

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PATENT 'oF-FICE .U MIQIJLEINoIs, Assicnon jr' aspnet-me HNO QQIL'LINQIS, Conroe-Arion or'lLLINols Y meeeemmems fBefore proceeding lwith: the detailed de# scrptionfofthe construction, it may be well to' explain? that,lwhile' thel pneumatic icoupler herein 'shown is in theformcf what-is kn'ovvnl as an octavecoupler for-use in a combined key and automaticallycontrolled'organ'for piano, 'and will be described as such; the f conY struction 'is equally well adaptedforvother uses, some 4:oit-'which' will 'be-K pointed out "fol-l lowing the detailed' description, andit'isto lbe understood lthat the' :invention is'not limited,- therefore,to the exact orm'orlconnectionof the-parts shownin the dra-wings* 1= f Octave couplers are employed for effecting, at will, the lcoupling of the note-soundingdevices of musical. instruments in'octaves,'so that, f lsimultaneouslyfgwith the soundingf of any note in the'in'strument scale, anothernote ofthe-same denomination in a different *part of thelscale will be sou'n'ded.-fAs-is well known inthis art, anyonenote'may becoupled in this manner 'with oneor more/notes of the same denomination one or more'o'ctaves above or below the principal'note, Suclrnote. coupling devices being' known'fas octave, super-octave, and sub-octavecouplers.

' The pneumatic coupler herein shown isl a single octave coupler,-provided with one series of connections extending to the valvesof a key-operable valve-action, and with anotherseries of connections extending to the valves of Ia tracker-controllable valve-action,- the obvious purpose of such double connections being to provide for the use ofthe coupler when the instrument is played either manually or automatically,as well as both. manually and automatically.

' rIn Figure l, the pneumatic coupler Cis shown as comprising a horizontally extending duct-bar 1,'from the lower part of which a series oftubular conduits '2, Sand 4 extend :torv connection7 withv individual duct-s in a key-operable valve-action K (Fig. 4),-1and from the upper part' of which a separate series of tubular conduits 5 and 6 extend for connection with individual ducts in a trackercontrollable valve-action T In or' der to avoid confusion through duplication of the parts, but one valve has been shown inY each of the valve-actions K and T,but it will be understood that, in actual use, there is one of each of these valves for each note in the musical instrumentscale. For the purposes of this description, it will be assumed that the left-hand section through the ductbar 1 cuts the ductspertaining, towhat will be termed a' principal note fG, while the right-hand section cuts the ducts pertaining to .the 1.1034307, one octaveabove. Each key-valve7,(Fig4),excepting those pertaining to thenote's'of' the rvupper octaveV of the scale (not illustrated) controls a4 pair of ports 8 and 9, Whichipe'ii'utpon the" under surface of the keyvalve-barlO. The

ducts 11 and 12 for ports 8 and 9, respectively, are connected by the'individual .tubular conduits-2 and 3, with duct 13 (Fig. 1),of the principalnote C and Wit-1L yduct 14 of the octavei note "C. Conduit'4A extends to a -2Q key-'valve (not illustrated) :similar to, but located-,one octave above, keyfvalve 7'and is connected with a corresponding duct 13, serving' the octave note Cf the .same as conduit 2`serves theprincipalnotefCl.'l Con-duits 2 and 4 aregprovidedfwith branch-'conduits -15 andl, respectively-,2 which extend to notevalves :(not.il1ustrated,sincethey may be of any Well known or'preferred construction and are not .an essentiall partof; thisk invention) individually controlling the' sounding of the respectivenotes C.and CCA The operationbfithese note-valves and the sounding-of their-respective notesiseii'ec'tedY by the admission of atmospheric air A throu 0h conduits 2 and' 4,'either bythe opening olf-the ycorresponding rkey-valves 7 or by .the opening of valves to' be hereinafter describedythe lastnamed valves being located,- in land upon Ythe pneumatic coupler C. f' Each tracker-valve 17 (Fig. .-3) controls the collapse and expansion of a corresponding one of a series of pneumatics i8 (Fig. 1) in the following well knownnnanner. The tracker-controllable valve-action T comprises-a chamber 19 from which' air is exausted in the usual or any preferred manner, not necessary to describe. The upper Wall 20 of chamber 19 is provided with a series of separate valve-chambers 21, one for each note, which are individually connected by ducts 22 and4 tubular con-duits, suchas 5 and 6, each with a corresponding duct 23 and pneumatic 18, and are provided with oppositely disposed ports 24 and 25, the ports 24 opening to the atmosphere and the ports 25 opening into chamber 19. Conduit 5 extends between ducts 22 and 23 and serves to connect the pneumatic 18 and valve 17 pertaining to the principal note C, While conduit 6 extends between and connects similar ducts and the pneumatic and valve pertaining to the octave note C. Each valve 17 is carried upon a valve-stem 26 and is operated by a diaphragm-pneumat-ic or puff 27 to control the connection of the @5. corresponding valve-chamber 21 ,and duct 22 alternately with their respective ports 24 and 25, the operation of each puff 27 being controlled by the admission and exclusion of atmospheric air to and from the pocket or recess 28 beneath said puit, through the respective tracker-tube 29 and tracker-.duct 30 ofthe tracker 31, through the co-operation of the usual perforated music sheet 32, all in the manner Well known in this art. v.

Each pneumatic 18 (Figi 1) is hinged at 33 and is provided with an arm'34, which extends over the hinge and carries a valve 35. A spring 36 Vacts against each arm 34 to hold Athe pneumatic 18 normally expanded and the valve 35 closed. Each valve 35, excepting those-pertaining to the notes of the upper octave of the scale (not illustrated), controls a pair of ports 37 and 38, which open out upon the surface of duct-bar ,1. Port-37 is the atmospheric Aterminus of a duct 39, to be presently described, and port 38 is the atmospheric terminus of a short duct 40 which connects with duct 13. v

Itwill now be seen that the sounding of each principal note ma,7 be controlled manually bythe manipulation ofthe respective manual key,'the depression of each key eifecting thero'pening of the respective key-valve 7 and the admission of atmospheric air to the corresponding note-valve through the respective port 8, duct 11, conduit 2, and branchconduit 15. Similarly, the sounding of each principal note may be controlled automatically from the music sheet 32. As the perforations in the music sheetselectively registerl with the corresponding apertures in tracker 31, atmospheric air will be admitted to the respect-ive tracker-ducts 30, trackertubes 29, and recesses 28, and the reduced airpressure Within chamber 19 will instantly effect the raising of the corresponding puffs 27 and valves 17. The raising of each valve 17 closes .thecrespective port 24 and opens the oppositely disposed port 25, shutting off the, communication .of the corresponding pneumatic-18 with the atmopshere and connecting it With chamber 19, through duct 23, conduit 5, duct 22, and valve-chamber 21, thus effecting the collapse of said pneumatic and the opening of the valve 35 carried thereby. The opening of each valve 35 admits atmospheric air to ports 37 and 38 controlled thereby, and to the respectively connected ducts 39 and 40. Duct 40 being connected with duct 13, the atmospheric air admitted thereto Will pass to conduit 2 and branch-conduit 15, and effect the operation of the respective notevalve in the 'same manner as that accomplished by the opening of the respective keyvalve 7 and port 8.

As shown in Figure 1, a member 41 extends horizontally along the rear surface of ductbar l and is provided With an air-tight chamber 42, one Wall of which chamber is formed by a single flexible diaphragm 43. A. tubular etfectsa similarmovement of the connected sliding D-valve 47 withinv a pressure-chamber 48,-toWhichfair-pressure is y'supplied in the usual or any preferred manner, not necessary to describe. IThis reciprocal movement ot' D-.valve 47 alternately connects duct 45, conduit-44, and chamber 42 with the atmosphere and with the pressure-chamber.' When the D-valve 47 iisl in the `:full-line' position shown in Fig. 2, it will cover duct and connect it withktlie atmosphere through duct 49a, chamber 42= will not befrserved with air-pressure,--diaphragmf'43' willzbe relaxed, and the pneumatic'couplen will be inoperative condition.= Whenthe D-valver47 is in the dottedline position 'shown' in Fig. A2', it lwill uncover duct,45,:ldisconnecting it from duct 49a and exposing. it'fto the air-pressure' in pressurechamber 48, chamber 42 will be supplied with air-pressure,=diaphragm 43 will be distended, and the pneumatic coupler lwill-be thusrenderedinperative, in=-al.manne'r: to be 'described-wl -`v wi: f Eachfduct113, excepting those pertaining to the notes: of the lowest octave of the 'instrument-scale, extends-to lthe rear` surface ol duct-bar land terminates thereupon in a port 49.? Aroundeach of these ports 49, a circular'fgr'oove- =50 islformed (-see. Fig. la) -leaving a boss 51 which forms a'seatzfor aicircularzdiaphr'agm or puit 52, each-purl' lbeing secured about its edge-part-to the surface ot duct-baril beyond the outer edgefot` the circular :groove 50. Preferably. the outer sura'ceor each puff 52 :is vprovided, with a centrally located disc 53, secured -upon the puit' to insure its proper seating upon the boss 51 to act as a valve foriport49 and for two other ports, 54 andf55, which open out upon the boss 51 aboveandbelow port 49,y respectively. These ports 5.4 and are complemental to port 49, theircommunication therewith being controlled by the same puff 52 and disc 53. Port 54 opens into a duct 56 and port 55 opens into the'duct 14,and both ot said duets are controlled by valves pertainiu tothe note one octave below. Referring, at this point,'to the right-hand section in Figure 1, it will be seen that duct 55 for the note C is connected by a tubular conduit 57 with duct 39 for the-note C and isI controlled by the valve 35 carried by the lpneumatic 18 pertaining to that note, and it will also be seen that duct 14 for the note C is connected by tub ular conduit 3 with duct 12 (Fig. 4) for the note C and is controlled by thekey-valve 7 ertaining to that'note. It is to `be Aunderstood that ducts 56 and 14 for the note C arersimilarly connected', bytheir respective conduits 57, and 3, to be controlled by valves keys, as hereinbefore described;

35 and 7 pertaining to the note CC (not illustrated),one octave below.

A' novel and important feature of this invention resides in the fact that, with the construction herein shown, there can be noleakage of air or communication between-the different puffs 52, or between such puffs and the chamber 42. Diaphragm 43 -sealsthe chamber 42, and is secured to and removable with the member 41. The puits 52 are individually sealed about their edges 'upon vthe duct-bar 1 to segregate each group ofports 49, 54 and 55 pertaining to each note of the instrument scale, and the space between said diaphragm 43 and said puls 52 is open, at the ends of the member 41, to the atmospherei Consequently, if there should be any/leakage ot' air through or at the edges of either the diaphragm 43 or any one or more ofthe several puffs 52, there will be no communication of such air-leakage to the ports andxducts pertaining to other notes. Furthermore, with this construction, a-leaky puff 52-will not interfere with the positive action ofthe diaphragm -43 in closing the respective port 49, when 'thecoupler is to be'held inoperative.l

The operation of the pneumatic-coupler will now be described. As already Imentioned, when 'the coupler draw-stop 46 is in its off position,-with D-*valve 47 inl the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 2, chamber 42 will be supplied' witlrlair-pressiu'e from pressure-chamber 48,through ductf45 and conduit 44, and diaphragm 43 will be distended, or blown outwardly to the right (as viewed in Fig. .1), to bear against all of the discs 53 and hold the central portion of all of the puffs 52'pressed against their respective bosses or seats 51 to close the entire series of individually grouped ports 49, 54 and 55.' Under such circumstances, the pneumatic coupler will be held in inoperative condition, and the admission of atmospheric air to branch-conduits 15 and'16, and the consequent sounding of the notes controlled by the note-valves connected with said branchconduits, may be controlled by the operation ot' valves 35, under control from tracker 31. or by the Operation of key-valves 7, operated by manipulation of the respective manual 1When the draw-stop 46 is drawn toits on position, with D-valve 47 in the full line position shown in F 2, chamber 42 willbe disconnected from pressure-chamber 48 and connet-ted with the atmosphere, and diaphragm 43 will be released from `holding puffs 52 pressed against seats 51.l In this manner,'the pneumatic coupler will be placed in operative condition. Now, as the different manual keys are depressed and the respectivefkeyvalves 7 are opened thereby to uncoverports S and 9 and admit atmospheric air to ducts 11 and 12, the respective principalnotefor each key will lbe sounded in the manner already described, through'` the several notevalves served by branch-conduits and 16, and, -inadditiom the respective octave'note for-each keywill be sounded in the following manner. z-The atmosph'eric air admitted through each opened port 9 will pass, through duct12 and conduit 3, to duct 14 of the octave note, to vport pertaining to said octave note. under the releasedpuf 52, to port 49 and .duct- 13, `and through conduit 4 and branch-conduit 16, to the note-valve for said octave note. -f

i fIn a-'similar manner, Whenthe respective valves'35 areA opened, under the -control of the music sheet 32 as hereinbefore described, to uncover .ports 37 and 38 and admit atmospheric fair to ducts 39 and 40,-the respective principal. note for each valve 35 will be soundedxinwthe manner already described, through the 'several note-valves served by branch-conduits .15 and `16and, in addition, the-respectivey octave notey for each valve 35 Willfbe sounded in the following manner. The atmospheric air admitted through each opened port 37 Will-v pass, through: duct 39 and conduit 57, to duct 56 of the octave note,

- tothe-port 54 pertaining-to ,said octave note,

under the released puff 52,l to -port 49 and duct 13, and through conduit 4 and branchconduit 16, -to thenote-valve for said octave no te.y ff .f It has been mentioned that the pneumatic coupler herein shown is not limited to use as anfoctave coupler. The two sections shown in AIfigrgfurefl have' been described as taken through different parts of the same coupler unit, cutting the 'ducts therein pertaining to notes one octave apart, but itis only necessary toconsider these sections as being taken through separate coupler units which may pertain to different divisions of the same instrument or to different instruments, and it Willbe realized that the construction and the invention embodied therein are adaptable, wit-hout change, to different uses. Consequently, excepting Where specifically stated, the appended claims are not to be construed asfreferring to octave couplers only.

Iclaim 1. The combination, With a musical instrument having a plurality of note-sounding devices and valves (7) individual to said devices selectively operable to control the operation thereof, of a pneumatic. coupler having afirst series of ducts (13) individually connected with and serving said devices, a-sccond series of ducts ('14) individually connected with and served by said valves, coupler-valves (52) controlling the individual connection of the respective duc-ts of said first and said second series, and a single pneumatically operable element (43) operating to bear upon and control the operation of a plurality of said coupler-valves. Y

,operable element (43) 2. The combination, with a musical instrument having a plurality of note-sounding devices and valves individual to said devices selectively operable to control the operation thereof, of a pneumatic coupler` having a iirst series of duc-ts individually connected with and serving said devices, Ia vsecond series of ducts individuallyconnected'with and served by said valves, coupler-valves cont-rolling the individual connection of the respective ducts of said first and said second series, anda single diaphragm operating to bear upon and control the operation ofa plurality of said coupler-valves. 'i A i' 3. The combination, with a musical instrument having a plurality of note-sounding devices and valves individual .to said devices selectively operable to control the operation thereof, of a pneumatic coupler having a first series of ducts individually connected with and serving said devices, a second series of ducts individually connected with and served by said' valves',*coupler-valvesl controlling the individual connection of the-respective ducts of said first and saidA second series, an air-chamber, a single-diaphragm forming a flexible Wall of said air-chamber and operating upon the alternate application and release of air-pressure to and from said air-chamber to bear upon and control the operation of a plurality of said coupler-valves,-

and means operating to control the application and release of air-pressure to and from said air-chamber. i

4. The combination, with a musical instrument having a plurality of note-sounding devices and a first (7 and a second (35) series of valves, the valves of each of-said series being individual to said devices and selectively operable to cont-rol the operation thereof, of a pneumatic coupler having a first series of ducts (13) individually connected with and serving said devices, a second series of ducts (14) individually connected With and served by the valves of said first series of valves, a third series of ducts (56) individually connected with and served by the valves of said second series of valves, coupler-valves (52) controlling the individual connection of the ducts of said first series of ducts with the respective ducts of said second and third series of ducts, and a single pneumatically operating to control the operation `of a plurality of said couplervalves.

5. The combination, with a musical instrument having a plurality of note-sounding devices and a first and a second series of valves, the valves of each of said series being individual to said devices and selectively operable to control the operation thereof, of a pneumatic coupler having a first series of ducts individually connected with and serving said devices, a second series of ducts individually connected With and served by the valves of said' first series of valves, :a third jseries 'of ducts"individuallyconnected with-'and served byl the'valves ofsaid-secondseries of valves, coupler-valves controlling'theinllividual connection of the ducts of said first series 'of ducts with the respectivedu'c'tsof said second and third'series ofducts, and; a single' diaphragm' operating to control the operation ofE a 'plurality of said coupler-valves." fr -6. The' combination, with a'inusical instrument having a-'plurality lof note-'sounding devices and a rstland' a second'series of valves, the valves of eacl'of said 'Series'bein'g individual to said devices and selectively 'foperable tocontrol'the'operation thereof, of a pneumatic coupler having a first series of ducts individuallyl 'connected "with" and"s'e'rving"V said devices, a second series of ducts'lindividually connected'"ivith and 'served'by the valves 'of said fir'stseries of valves', a third, series of ducts in'diviluallyE connected With and'served bythe valves of said secnd'series of valves, coupler-valves'controlling the individual connection'of thed'ucts fs'a'idfirst series of ducts vv'itliftlie iesfpectiveuducits" of second vand third'seriesof.ducts,anair-chanibeiia single diaphragm forming "af 'flexible Wall 'of' said air-chamber'and operatingiupjonthe alternate applicatioiiand release of"air-:pressure'v to and from'said air-chamber lto control the'operation of a'plurality of said l e( )upler-valves,"and means' pe'a'tns .t0 Canti-61j the application and release fof air-pre s 'su'reto (and from said '7 The combination, a 'musical instrument :having ai plurality' of note-sounding'devices', valvesl (7) individual to said devices'andfselectively operable to control the operation thereof, and ahfirst and a second (9) series of ports, 'one port of each of said series being controlled by one of said valves, of a pneumatic'coupler having a first s'eries yof' ducts ('13), each duct'thercof being connected with one port f said first series of ports controlled by .one of said'valves, a second series of ducts (14) each duct thereof beingconnected with one port of said second series of ports `controlled by another of said valvesjcoupler-valves (52) controlling the individual connection. of the ducts of said first seriesl of'du'cts Wththe respective ducts of said lsecondseries of ducts, and a single pneumatically loperable'element (43) operating to control the operation ofa plurality of said coupler-valves."l

48. The combination, with a musical instrument having'a plurality of'note-sounding devices, valves individual'to said devices and selectively operable to control the operation thereof, and a first anda second series* of ports, onel port of each of said series being controlled by one of said valves, of a pneumatic coupler having a first series of ducts, each duct thereof being connected with one of said devices and with one port of said first series of :ports controlled by one of said valves,"a` second series of ducts, each duct thereof'being connected with one port of said secon-d series of'po'rts controlled by another of said valves, coupler-valves controlling the'in'dividual connection of the ducts of said first series of ducts with the respective ducts of said second series ofducts, and a single pneun'iatically operable element operating to control the operation vof a vplurality 'of said coupler-valves. l

9. The combination, with a musical/ instrument 'having a plurality ofv note-sounding devices, a first' v(7) and a second (35) series of valves, the valves of each of said series being individual to saidv devices and selectively operable to' control the operation thereof, and a pair of ports controlled by veach valvefof said first and second vseries of valves, of a pneumatic coupler Ahavinga first series of ducts (1 3), eachl duct thereof-being con-` nected with'one of said'devices,'with one of said pair 'of lports controlled by one ofthe valves 'of lsaid firstv series of valves, and with one of said 'pairiof ports controlled lby one ofthe' valves'of` said' secondseries of valves; a second series of ducts (l4),each duct'thereof vbeing connected With the other one of said pair "of ports controlled by one of the valves ofsaid first series of-val ves; a third series of ducts (5 6), eachduct'tliereof being connected with the otherone of-'s'aid pair ofports controlled byf'one ofthe valves ofsaid s'econdseries of valves; coupler-valves controlling the individual connection of the ducts of said first series of ducts With the respective ducts of said second and third series of ducts; and a single pneuinatically operable elementloperating to control the operation of a plurality of said coupler-valves.

l0.` The combination, with a key-controlled musical instrument having a plurality of note-sounding devices, a plurality of keys, and a seriesv of key-valves individual to said devices and selectivelyoperable by said keys to control the operation of said devices, of a pneumatic coupler having a first series 0f ducts "individually 'connected with and yserving said devices, a second series of ductsindividually connected with and controlled by said key-valves, coupler-valves controlling the'individual connection of the' respective ducts of said first and second series of ducts, and a'single pneumatically operable element operating to bear'up'on and control the operation of al plurality of said coupler-valves.

' 11. 'The combination, Withan automatic musical instrument having a vplurality of note-sounding devices, a tracker, and a series of Vtracker-valves individual to said'devices and selectively operable under the control of said tracker to control the operation'ofsaid devices, of a pneumatic coupler having a first series of'ducts'individually connected with and serving said devices, a second seriesof ducts.individuallyconnected with and controlled by saidtrackcr-valves, coupler-valves controlling the individual connection ofthe respective Aducts of said rst and second series of ducts, and a single pneumatically operableeleinentroperating to bear vupon 'and control the operation of a plurality of said coupler-valves. y t

12. -The combination, with a combined key and automatically controlled musical instrument having a plurality of note-sounding devices, aplurality of keys, atracker,{a series ofkeyfvalves individual to saiddevices and selectively loperable by said keys. to control the operation'of said devices, and a seriesof tracker-valves individual to said devices and selectively operable under the control of said tracker to control the operation of said devices,of. a pneumatic coupler having a. first series 'of Vducts individually connected With and serving said de vices,- a second series of ducts individually 'connected with land controlled byzsaidkey-valves, a third series 'of ducts individually connectedWit-h and con,- trolled by said tracker-valves, coupler-valves controlling the individual connection of the ductsvof said .irstzseriesof ducts :with .the respective ducts of said second. and third seriesofducts, and asingle pneumatically operableyelement operating to control the yoperation of aplurality of said coupler-valves.

13. vThe combination, with .a combined .key and automatically,controlled musical instruf ment having a plurality of note-sounding devices, a pluralityof. keys, a tracker, a series ofxkey-valves individual to saidl devices and selectively operable by saidlkeysto control the operationof said devices, and a series of tracker-valves.individual to said devices and selectively operable under the control of said tracker to control t-he operation ofsaid devices, of a pneumatic coupler having a series of principal note ducts` individually connected with and serving said devices, a first series of octave noteducts individually connected with and served by said key-valves, a-second series of octave note ducts individually connected with and served by said tracks er-valves, coupler-valves controlling the 1ndividual connection of each of said principal note ducts with an octave note-ductof each said first and second series of octave note ducts, and a single pneumatically operable notelducts (13) individually connected With and serving said devices, a first seriesof octave note ducts (14) individually connected with and served by said manually controllable valves, a second 'series of octave note ducts (56) individuallyconnected with and served by said automatically controllable valves, coupler-valves operating to control the individual connection of each of said principal note ducts With aV respective ductvof each of said series of octave note ducts, and a single pneumatically operable' element operating to control theoperation of a plurality of said coupler-valves.4 v v ,15. The combination,fivith a musical inlstrument having a plurality of note-sounding devices, valves indiyidualto said devices and selectively operablefto control the operation thereof, a first anda second series of ports, one port of each of said series being controlled by one of'said valves, and connections individually connecting. theports ofsaid first serieswith said note-sounding devices, of a pneumatic coupler having a series o f principal note ducts, each duct thereof being connected with one of .said note-sounding devices; a series of octave note ducts, each duct thereof beingconnected with one of said second series of ports; coupler-valves controllingthe individual connection of each octave note duct with its respective principal note duct; and a single pneumatically operable element operating to bearupon and control the operation of a plurality of said coupler-valves.

lti-Tbe combination, with vafniusical -instrument-,having a plurality of lnote-sounding devices; a firstand asecond series of valves, the valves ofeach of said series being individual to said devices and selectively operable to lcontrol the operation thereof; and a. pair of ports controlled by each of said valves, the first port ofeach pair being connected4 with one of said note-sounding devices; of a pneumatic coupler having a series of principal note ducts, each duct thereof being connected with one of said note-sounding devices; a first series of octave note ducts connected With the second port of each pair of ports controlled by each valve of said first seriesof valves; a second series zof octave note ducts connected with the second port of each pair of ports controlled by each valve of said second series of valves; coupler-valves controlling the individual connection of each duct of said series of principal note ducts with a respective duct of said first and said second series of octave note ducts; and a single pneumatically operable element operating to control the operation of a plurality of said coupler-valves.

17. A pneumatic coupler for musical instruments comprising a duct-bar having a series of ducts and individual ports therefor, said ports opening out upon one face of said duct-bar; va series of flexible diaphragms seber, to hold a plurality of said port-covering4 diaphragms pressed against said duct-bar to close their respective ports, and means operating to alternately apply and release airpressure to and from said air-chamber.

18. A pneumatic coupler for musical instruments comprising a duct-bar having a series of ducts and individual ports therefor, said ports opening out upon one face of said duct-bar; a series of iexible diaphragme secured upon said one face of said duct-bar, each diaphragm covering one of said ports and separating it from other ports; a valvedisk secured upon each of said diaphragme; an air-chamber extending over said port-covering diaphragms; a flexible controlling diaphragm forming one Wall of said air-chamber and spaced slightly from said port-covering diaphragms, the space between said controlling diaphragm and said port-covering diaphragms being in free communication with the atmosphere, said controlling diaphragm operating, when distended by the application of air-pressure to said air-chamber, to hold a plurality of said disks and their respective port-covering diaphragms pressed to close their respective ports, and means controllable at will and operating to alternately apply and release air-pressure to and from said airwchamber.

19. A pneumatic coupler for musical instruments comprising a duct-bar having a plurality of series of ducts and a plurality of series of ports individual thereto, said ports opening out upon one face of said ductbar and being arranged thereupon in groups, there being one port of each of said series in each group; a series of flexible diaphragms secured upon said one face of said duct-bar, each diaphragm covering one group of said ports and separating that group from other groups; an air-chamber extending over said port-covering diaphragms; a flexible controlling diaphragm forming one Wall of said air-chamber and spaced slightly from said port-covering diaphragms, the space between said controlling diaphragm and said portcovering diaphragms being in free communication With the atmosphere, said controlling diaphragm operating, when distended by the application of air-pressure to said air-chamber, to hold a plurality of said port-covering diaphragms pressed against' said duct-bar to close their respective f groups of l-portsaand prevent inter-communication thereof, and means operating tolalternatelyi apply and'release air-pressure to and'from said air-cham- 13812K" f-. I 'r "m- ^1".w1 v "I 20. A pneumatic coupler ormusicalfin-v struments comprising a fduct-barmavingf a plurality of series of' ducts anda-plurality-of serieslof ports individualthereto, said ports opening out uponone zfaceof saidfduct-ba'r and= fbeinfgiv arranged thereupon. in:v groups, there being one port o'feachfoffsaid serieswin. each group; a series' oflexible-'diaphragms secured upon saidone-'acerof saidrduct-bar,I each: diaphragm covering vone'- group of: said ports;and Xseparating thatgroup from/other groups; av valveldisk secured: up'on' feachfy "of said fdiaphragms; :an air-chamber @extending over said portf-'coveringy diaphragms;' far flex-'- ibleV controlling diaphragm forming.' one' :Wall of ssaid air-chambery and@ spaced 5 .slightly from said sport-covering 5 diaphragma the space? between-"said controlliiig .'diaphragm' and -said lport-coveringdiaphragms beingfin ffree communication jw-ith the"` atmosphere,E saidlcontrolling diaphragm operating, when dist-ended by f' the application ofi airLpress'ure tol said air-chamber, to' -hold -a plurali-ty i {of said disks and their respective port-covering diaphragms pressed toclose l.their respective groups of ports and prevent intercommunica tion thereof; and means controllablea xwill and f operating to -alternatelylapply and release air-pressure to and from said airchamber.

' 21. A pneumatic coupler for musical instruments comprising a duct-bar having a plurality of series of ducts, a series of coupler-valves controlling the inter-communication oi' corresponding ducts of each series, an air-chamber fixed with relation to said duct-bar, and a controlling diaphragm forming a iiexible wall of said air-chamber and acting, upon the alternate application and release of air-pressure to and from said air-chamber, to control the operation of a plurality of said coupler-valves and thereby cont-rol the inter-communication of corresponding ducts of said plurality of series of ducts.

22. A pneumatic coupler for musical instruments comprising a duct-bar having a series of principal note ducts (13) and a series of valve-controlled atmospheric ports (40) opening into the respective duct-s of said series; a series of octave note ducts (56) and a series of valve-controlled atmospheric ports (37) connected with the respective ducts of said series; a series of Valves (35) each valve thereof controlling one atmospheric port of each of said series of ducts; a series of coupler-valves (52), each valve thereof controlling the communication of one of said principal note ducts with one of said octave note 8 finaal;

duets;- andl a single pneumaticallygoperable element.operatingto'control the operation of a pluralityiof said :coupler-valves. 23.; Azpneumaticf coupler fonmusical instruments comprisinga duct-bar having a series of principal note ducts and a. series of valve-controlled l:,1trnospheric ports' opening intoi the =respectiveductsof said series; a series lof o ctave'n'ote duct-s and a series o .valve controlled atmospheric ports lconnected with the respective ductsofsaid series; a series of pneumatics seouredeupon ysaid duct-bar and a series'of valves actuated by said pneumatCS, each. pneumaticland the valve actuated thereby controlling one atmospheric port of each of fsaid speries-v ofpduct's'; a series. of .j couplervalves; f f each -l valve thereof f f. controlling I the communication? of one. of said-principal note ducts with one :of said octave note ducts a duct extendingffroin each of said pneumatics, through whichthe-Aoperation of the respective pneumatica-may be controlled; an air-chamber having a'leXblewallxoperatng upon the alternate f applic'ation.;.and release ofv airpressure to and; from said air-chamber to control ,fthe operation of jail-plurality ofsaid couplerfvalvsgfand la conduit y extending from said air-chamber; through which .the applicationand release, of; ain-pressure to and from saidair-.chalnberj may-:be controlled. LA L A; :In witness whereof, I l:have hereunto isubscribedl ,myy name this 17 th day. of January, Ai-"D.f=1927.;agrf-ig, f1-

, v LEWIS ,'IUBARKSTROM.l 

